PHOTOS: Training preps guide dogs for ‘take off’ at PDX

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Travelers were treated to a “paw-sitively” cute sight at Portland International Airport Saturday morning.

Around 25 pups with Guide Dogs for the Blind groups from Portland and Vancouver – along with their volunteer raisers – got some special practice going through airport security.

This marked a training period for the dogs, where they learned how to successfully navigate a busy airport and help people who are blind or visually-impaired with the security screening process.

According to GDB, raisers receive a guide dog puppy when they are about 8 weeks old and teach them basic obedience and manners. At between 15 and 17 months old, the dog will return to the GDB campus in Boring to undergo a more formal training for anywhere between 3 to 5 months. Once the training is complete, the guide dog is matched with a client.

Since its founding in 1942, the organization has trained more than 16,000 guide teams.